1. Grand Canyons. the temperature. Under a canopy of fan palms, it's considerably cooler than on the desert floor.

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Caroline Merritt
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ike many California, residents of coastal Southern I visit the Palm Springs area fairly regularly. Located in the Coachella Valley of the Colorado Desert, the region has an appeal all its own.

2 ike many California, residents of coastal Southern I visit the Palm Springs area fairly regularly. Located in the Coachella Valley of the Colorado Desert, the region has an appeal all its own. Sometimes I am lured by nothing more than the stillness that only the desert can provide. Last summer, motivated by the lackluster economy, I braved triple-digit temperatures and drove east on Interstate IO in search of off-season bargains. Lower greens fees, two-forone restaurant offers, and discounted admissions to popular attractions would be worth a little pain and suffering, I figured. How wrong I was. Yes, the bargains abounded. But the pain and suffering were missing. I found plenty to do indoors, where air conditioning makes life comfortable, and I learned that at 8:00 a.m.} the desert is no hotter than my hometown at midday. As another summer approaches and the mercury begins to climb, here are some of my coolest discoveries that you should explore next time you're in town: 1. Grand Canyons Long before Frank Capra filmed the 1937 classic Lost Horizon here, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians was drawn to the valley's canyons, which provide an oasis of palm groves, natural waterfalls, and hot mineral springs at the base of towering mountains. Start on West Mesquite Avenue (west of Palm Canyon Drive), where you'll find the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center, which pays tribute to Coachella's first inhabitants with educational and cultural exhibits. Take the video tour, then head out on a hike led by one of the knowledgeable rangers, who will point out remnants of Indian culture, such as the mortars in which the Cahuilla ground corn. You'll learn that the valley sits on one of the largest aquifers in the western United States. The water bubbling up at your feet? It's emanating from an earthquake fault. Tahquitz has much to offer, but Andreas, Palm, and Murray, three other canyons in the area, are certainly worth your time, too. Andreas Canyon is host to more than 150 plant species within a half-mile radius, and it's a birdwatcher's delight. But the real reason to visit this canyon is the temperature. Under a canopy of fan palms, it's considerably cooler than on the desert floor.

3 I Getting to Mount San Jacinto where it's 30 F cooler than in the valley - is at least half the fun when you're on board the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. State-of-the-art tramcars rotate 360 degrees, providing a magnificent view of the Coachella Valley during the 2.5-mile ascent to the Mountain Station in Mount San Jacinto State Park. Once you're there, it's time for a hike. With 54 miles of trails, ranging from a one-mile nature walk to a 5.5-mile climb to San Jacinto's peak, you're sure to find one that suits your pace. Stop along the way at the lookout points, which provide superb vistas of the desert below and of surrounding peaks that soar to more than 10,000 feet in elevation. And there's no better place to eat than at the top of the mountain. The Tramway's Ride 'n' Dine package is one of the best deals in the Palm Springs area. A ticket that includes dinner at the ski lodge-style Pines Cafe can be purchased for only shghtly more than the cost of the tram ticket alone. 3. 'Mill Around Why were turbines built in the Coachella Valley? What's so special about the way the wind blows through this area just north of 1-10) And what is a wind gypsy) Ask Ken Huskey, who serves as a guide for the Palm Springs Windmill Tour (offered by The Best of the Best Tours), and knows just about everything there is to know about wind power. The San Gorgonio Pass, flanked by Mount San Gorgonio and Mount San Jacinto, and only 90 miles from the Pacific,is the best place in the United States to harness wind power, according to Huskey. He'll also tell you that the first turbine was installed here in 1926, but General Patton later ordered it removed, and the metal was used for the war effort. Today 3,200 turbines create 650 megawatts of electricity, providing power to 200,000 Southern California homes. Huskey also talks about the future of turbines in the United States. With the government's plans to increase the use of wind energy, there's the potential for the industry to support a half million jobs across the country by As for what a wind gypsy is, you'll just have to take the tour to find out. 4. Cozy Cuisine The late Don Callender, son of pielady Marie, designed the Jackalope Ranch restaurant and the surrounding grounds, which sprawl over 6.5 acres in the nearby city of Indio. Clearly, he

4 We asked Interval members who live in the Palm Springs area about their favorite summer haunts and activities. For your to-do list: I Knott's Soak City: "Kids love the water park, located on Gene Autry Trail. Families can spend an entire day there - and still not have enough~" Thai Smile restaurant on North Palm Canyon Drive: "It's where all the locals go, but perhaps I should not tell you that~". '..' Mikado Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar:"When you sit here, you can easily see why the desert is so popular. The mountains will change colors from tan to brown to amber to red to purple as each finger falls into shadow from the setting sun until it's eclipsed by the 10,000-foot peak of San Jacinto." Azul on North Palm Canyon Drive: "Misters and lots of people-watching, not to mention terrific two-for-one drinks during happy hour." ~I Melvyn's Restaurant & Lounge: "It was the watering hole for the rich and famous from the bygone days of Palm Springs." Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Mount San Jacinto State Park: "This trip takes only a few minutes and brings you 8,500 feet above sea level for a day of cool hiking, lunch, or just enjoying nature." was going for the visual equivalent of his mom's comfort food. Ponds, waterfalls, a well-manicured lawn, and a peaceful patio suggest not so much a restaurant as somebody's backyard. Cool off inside, where the Western ranch decor, with horse paintings and cowhide bar stools, continues the down-home theme. Live entertainment and specials including Wednesday night line dancing and a daily happy hour with half-price drinks and bar food - draw locals and visitors alike. Barbecue is one Jackalope specialty, but the contemporary Southwestern menu also features steaks and seafood. If you go for lunch, be sure to order the delicious grilled salmon salad, served with artichokes, asparagus, and haricots verts. 5. H.O.G. Heaven Born to be wild? Rent a Harley at Palm Springs International Airport, and tour the desert with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Eagle Rider is the first motorcycle rental agency at an airport terminal, making the open road just a people mover or two away. 6. Child's Play The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert is less a museum than a learning center - and a whole lot of fun. Kids can navigate a rope maze, paint a car - a real VW Bug with real paint - and make pizza (alas, with synthetic ingredients). One young mom says that she and her daughter visit several afternoons a week when the temperatures are particularly hot. With more than 50 hands-on exhibits providing educational entertainment, it's easy to understand why. 7. Make A Splash If you're traveling with kids - actually, it really doesn't matter if you have children in tow - cool down at Knott's Soak City Palm Springs water park. What adult could possibly say no to the thrills of the Tidal Wave Tower - twin seven-story slides that will see you go from 0 to splash in the blink of an eye - or the slithering Sea Snake tube slide? The park's most recent addition, the Pacific Spin, is a multi -person raft ride boasting a 132foot-long tunnel that drops 75 feet into a six-story funnel and culminates in a waterfall curtain. How cool is that?

fast FACTS 8. Art Direction If you're thinking of a quick drop-in at the Palm Springs Art Museum - beat the heat for a bit and then move on - you might want to reconsider.

5 fast FACTS 8. Art Direction If you're thinking of a quick drop-in at the Palm Springs Art Museum - beat the heat for a bit and then move on - you might want to reconsider. The museum has undergone a major makeover, taking it from a dark, bland space to a sparkling repository of art housed in a light and bright place complete with beautiful beech floors. How did this happen? "Our affluent donors kept leaving us their collections, and it just made sense to put them on display," says Bob Bogard, the museum's director of marketing communications. The result is a world-class museum (in a city of only 48,000). The collection is eclectic - ranging from Western art donated by actor George Montgomery to an original Brillo box dress sculpted by Andy Warhol. Other celebrity donors include Frank Sinatra and William Holden. Plan on spending an entire day here (it's always 75 F inside), making time for a nice leisurely lunch in the Muse San Gorgonio Pass Coachella Valley Palm Springs Cathedral City Rancho Mirage ~ Palm ~esert - --!-."

6 Cafe, where the walls are lined with black-and-white images of I9S0s and '60s Hollywood celebrities who lived in Palm Springs at the time. And speaking of movie stars, the museum's Annenberg Theater hosts the Global Lens film series, as well as lectures and a variety of live performances throughout the year. 9. The Beet Goes On On Thursday nights in Palm Springs, six blocks of Palm Canyon Drive are closed for a street fair/farmers' market happening. VillageFest includes entertainment and vendors selling fresh produce from local farms and date gardens, as well as crafts, art, and jewelry. Munch on meatball sandwiches while watching a constant parade of locals, visitors, kids, and dogs; then thank the late Sonny Bono. He initiated VillageFest during his tenure as mayor of the city. 10. Crave The Date Shields Date Garden has been in the same spot since 1924, when Floyd and Bess Shields, inspired by the desert conditions around Indio, first started cultivating heat- and sun-loving date palm trees. Today, the Coachella Valley produces 30 million pounds of dates every year. Pick up a cool, tasty date shake (seriously, they're delicious), which you can sip while catching the IS-minute educational classic film, The Romance & Sex Life of the Date (Floyd footage included). As with the shake, it's become something of a legend in the area over the years, and it's surprisingly good. Elizabeth Hansen is the travel editor of the San Diego-based Ranch & Coast magazine. She wrote about coastal Southern California in the Spring 2007 issue of Interval World.

OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE. VisitPalmSprings.com

OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE. VisitPalmSprings.com OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE fun, sun relaxation & 360 days of sunshine Nestled at the base of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains, Palm Springs is a world-famous resort destination with a perfect combination